Scott Morrison has discussed trade and Australia’s plans to join an international mission in the waters south of Iran with several world leaders at the G7 summit in France.
But the prime minister was as surprised as the rest of the leaders when Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif joined the gathering in Biarritz.
He explained Australia’s decision of last Wednesday to contribute troops, a surveillance plane and a Navy frigate to the US-led effort to protect shipping lanes from Iran during meetings with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on the sidelines of the summit.
Neither was concerned about the plan.
“(They had) a great respect for the way that Australia thinks through these issues and is very clear about how we pursue our national interests and do so in a way which is very, very well-targeted,” Mr Morrison told reporters in Biarritz on Sunday.
“We’re very clear about what this was about, what it wasn’t about.”
He also spoke about Australia’s contribution during a 20-minute meeting with US President Donald Trump.
During that catch-up, Mr Morrison reiterated Australia’s concerns about the impact the US-China trade dispute is having on the global economy.
Mr Trump announced a further escalation of tariffs just ahead of travelling to France.
“These types of responses, I would say they’re fairly obvious in terms of how that would play out until this matter is resolved,” Mr Morrison said.
But asked if that meant he backed Mr Trump’s approach, the prime minister said only he wants to see the dispute ended.
Both sides had raised legitimate grievances about the other, he said.
“But equally, you can’t just sort of brush these issues aside forever, they have to be dealt with.”
Trade also came up during the chat with Ms Merkel, with Mr Morrison updating her on some of the concerns raised by Australian farmers over the lengthy list of foods and spirits that Europe wants to protect under geographic indicators.
He said Australia needs to see an ambitious offer of market access from the European Union as negotiations progress on the deal.
The other trade deal in the works is one that can’t formally start yet: a post-Brexit agreement with the UK.
That will come up during a meeting with new British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday morning (Monday evening AEST), who has also talked trade this weekend with Mr Trump.
Mr Morrison anticipated another tough conversation topic with Mr Johnson: “I’m sure he’ll give me a hard time about the fact that they clipped us in the latest Ashes.”
He’s also been issuing invitations to leaders to join him in his regular morning swim ahead of the summit’s final day of meetings beside Biarritz’s famous beach, La Grande Plage.
Chilean President Sebastian Pinera was fascinated by Mr Morrison’s regime, quizzing him on where he swam and his prowess ahead of their private talks.
-ABC
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